Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Steamy and potentially stormy tropical air mass ahead next week?

Highs in the 80s to near 90 degrees emerging next week.

Beach time
Joe Jungmann and his fiance Nicki Opdahl cooled off in the waters of Lake Josephine in Roseville, Minn. Monday, July 2.
Jeffrey Thompson for MPR News | 2012

Here it comes, Minnesota.

This is the time of year when we’re scanning the medium-range forecast maps for the first real heat events of summer. We’ve already hit 90-degrees twice in May in the Twin Cities. That’s about average.

Next week brings our next opportunity for 90-degree heat for much of Minnesota. A southerly wind flow straight from the Gulf of Mexico will pump a steamy tropical air mass into Minnesota next week.

NOAA 6 to 10-day temperature outlook
NOAA 6 to 10-day temperature outlook.
NOAA

Highs will run well into the 80s as early as next Monday. Right now Tuesday looks like the hottest day next week. Many forecast models are cranking out 90 degrees across a good part of Minnesota next Tuesday.

Here’s the European model.

European model (ECMWF) temperature forecast
European model (ECMWF) temperature forecast for 7 pm Tuesday, June 14.
ECMWF via pivotal weather

Now check out the dew point forecast for next Tuesday. Dew points in the 70s will feel like a sauna.

Dew point forecast
Dew point forecast for 7 pm Tuesday, June 14.
ECMWF via pivotal weather

Combine the temperature and dew point levels next Tuesday and you get heat index values around 100 degrees for much of Minnesota.

Heat index values Tuesday afternoon
Heat index values Tuesday, June 14.
ECMWF via pivotal weather

So enjoy our pleasant air mass this week. It looks like we’ll be enjoying a free sauna in one week.